Yahoo Sports Ibrahimovic: ‘Milan talking for Walker, but Tomori is our player’
Milan advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic confirms talks with Manchester City for Kyle Walker, but warns Juventus that Fikayo Tomori ‘is our player and Sergio Conceicao really likes him.’
It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 17.00 GMT.
These teams met in Riyadh on January 3, which was the debut of new coach Sergio Conceicao after replacing Paulo Fonseca.
Although Kenan Yildiz had put the Bianconeri ahead, the Rossoneri turned it around to win the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final with a Christian Pulisic penalty and deflected Yunus Musah cross.
Ibrahimovic spills the beans on Milan transfer speculation
The inevitable focus when Ibrahimovic arrived for the DAZN pre-match interview was the transfer market, asked first of all about the negotiations to take Walker on loan from Manchester City with option to buy for a total €6m.
“Everyone knows Walker is a great player, he’s done big things at Manchester City, played for Tottenham and England. When someone like Walker is on the market, there is going to be a lot of interest,” confessed Ibrahimovic.
Considering he is 34 years old, is signing the veteran full-back somewhat against the stated Milan strategy for this season?
“It is not against our vision or strategy, because he is a very strong player, a leader in the locker room and we are trying to verify what is and is not possible.”
The plan has also changed with the arrival of new boss Conceicao, as Fonseca was sacked at the end of December after just six months in charge, but Ibrahimovic warned against naming names of targets on television.
“We speak every day to the coach, because we need to know what he wants, our strategy and keep that communication going. Now we know what we need and will work. This is the transfer window, the more I talk, the more players will cost! There are names coming out every day and agents are also performing their own strategy.
“This is a strong squad, it already won the Supercoppa, we just need to find some more consistency.”
Tomori starts this evening, despite the reports that Juventus are in talks to take him on loan with an obligation to buy for €25m, so is the defender for sale?
“Tomori is our player, he is happy at Milan, played well both under Fonseca, but also Conceicao really likes him. He is a Milan player,” assured Ibrahimovic.
